Helping Grieving & Traumatized Children Cope With The Holidays

Rick's House Of Hope Offers Grief Support For Families This Holiday Season

Davenport, IA - The holidays – a season of roasting turkeys and chestnuts, blinking lights and baking, Santa and singing carols – will soon be upon us. For those who have lost a loved one to death, the first holiday season (and even the second) can be extremely difficult. When there are young children in the home, the challenges are even greater. Are you wondering:

• How can we possibly "celebrate" the holidays this year?
• Where will I find the energy to shop and bake?
• What will the kids want to do?
• How do I make this Christmas special for them, when life itself is hardly bearable?

Rick's House of Hope, a grief and trauma recovery center serving children from the Quad Cities and surrounding area, will assist families facing these questions and more, with a very special program to help families make it through this difficult time of the year.

"Handling The Holidays For Families With Young Children," is a workshop that will be offered Sunday, Nov. 21, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., at Rick's House of Hope, 4867 Forest Grove Drive, Bettendorf.

"While many of us see the holiday season as one of great joy and excitement, it often is a time of terrible sadness if a death has been experienced in the family," says the Rev. Robyn Plocher, Director, Rick's House of Hope. "We work to help family members understand their emotions, express their worries and find ways to commemorate their lost loved one."

A donation of $5 per family is payable at the door, but all are encouraged to attend regardless of ability to pay. Space may be limited. For more information or to register, call Rick's House of Hope at 563-324-9580.

Rick's House of Hope – named to honor the memory of the Rev. Rick Johnson, is a program of Prairie and River Spiritual Resources – is a division of the Genesis Medical Center Spiritual Care Department. Rick's House of Hope is a safe haven that provides guidance and support for young people and their families during painful and confusing times of grief.